I encountered this problem whilst trying to install ubuntu-12.04.2-server-amd64. A solution that worked for me was to use Win32 Disk Imager to write the ISO to the USB flash drive. When I opened the ISO image in 7-zip, or mounted it using Daemon Tools and viewed the contents in Windows Explorer, both showed the files in /pool/main/l/linux with truncated names.
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NickGJun 22 '13 at 15:59

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NickG's solution worked for me as well (had used UNetbootin under Windows first which apparently didn't work).
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gablinAug 2 '13 at 11:10

I experienced the same issue but with 13.10. Turns out the problem was not with the installer but the motherboard's BIOS settings (GIGABYTE GA-990FXA-UD3). I was unable to install from USB and ended up cloning an existing server installation and boot the computer with it. Neither the USB ports nor the Ethernet card would work. Once the BIOS settings were changed everything started working. See askubuntu.com/questions/276788/… for details
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hknustDec 11 '13 at 4:27

I tried the solutions below and none of them worked for me. Seems to be an issue with versions above 13.04. I was able to install Ubuntu Server 13.04 64bit without any issues. Here is a link to 13.04 raring ringtail old-releases.ubuntu.com/releases/13.04
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Kyle C.Jun 16 at 5:25

7 Answers
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It seems there are some naming errors with the files under \pool\main\l\linux (I found false extensions *.ude instead of *.udeb there) and a MD5-Checksum error with ./install/netboot/ubuntu-installer/i386/pxelinux.cfg/default). After fixing these errors I'm able to install the 32-bit Server Edition.

Thanks! Yeah they are definitely in the ISO image like that. Strangely I managed to get it working by simply burning to DVD even without renaming the files to their proper extension. Installing from USB though must pick up the errors.
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zuallauzApr 30 '12 at 11:41

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Kudos @hre1. There have been issues with USB installs for several years. No one has really fixed this or fully identified them. The only work around, for those few machines that always stalled during install, was to use a CD-ROM instead.
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david6Jun 3 '12 at 0:04

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MAYBE: If the USB is stick created under the same Ubuntu release as the target, then this will often work (even when a 'Universal' created stick fails). eg. using 12.04 LTS 'desktop' to create USB install for 12.04 LTS 'server'.The bugs need to be fixed, but this minimises them ..
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david6Oct 25 '12 at 8:14

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I don't have any *.ude file instead of *.udeb in \pool\main\l\linux
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Open SEODec 27 '12 at 15:53

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just changing the extension works, look for them. I found them and just renamed the extension and everything worked like a charm.
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Basit AnwerJan 2 '13 at 17:21

I suppose you have to mount /dev/sdb1. Are you sure /dev/db1 is your USB device? Check it by watching your /dev/ directory and unplug the USB device and see what devices removes.
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Rob GroenJan 10 at 8:19

The solution is to use the Startup Disk Creator. I have try it on my USB key and I have installed Ubuntu Server 12.04 LTS 32 bits without trouble. I use Ubuntu Desktop 12.04 LTS in order to create my USB Startup Disk. See this article for details about Startup Disk Creator: http://www.ubuntu.com/download/help/create-a-usb-stick-on-ubuntu

I just tried this method, and it does indeed work, so +1 for that... However, I wouldn't call this the solution, as there's clearly a problem with either the Ubuntu disc image or the Universal USB Installer program.
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BreakthroughMay 8 '12 at 16:11

This method is quite valid. But, I am concerned that this (quietly) forces a workaround. These are still a few machines out there (older BIOS, chip) where the SDC/USB method does NOT work, and one has to resort to a CD install.
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david6Jun 3 '12 at 0:06

This isn't a solution if you only have a windows box
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Open SEODec 27 '12 at 15:54

Here the issue (broken installer image on usb for 10.04 64b server) was solved by using the startup disk creator on an existing 12.04 installation (edu i386).
The startup disk creator on Ubuntu 10.04.4 LTS 64b, caused the damaged startup-usb and does not seem to be compatible (enough) to create a 12.04 installation usb-stick.